Curators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,520 or more. The middle half of curators in Columbia earn between $42,440 and $61,700.
- $36K10th
- $42K25th
- $56KMedian
- $62K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,150 | $4,679 | $27.00 |
| Median | $56,270 | $4,689 | $27.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,440 | $3,537 | $20.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,700 | $5,142 | $29.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Curators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Curators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($55,640) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($71,560). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $63,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $56,150 | $56,270 | $35,800 | $76,520 | 30 |
| South Carolina | $55,640 | $47,200 | $35,800 | $78,430 | 120 |
| United States | $71,560 | $63,420 | $40,470 | $107,140 | 12,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Curators salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $56,150, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $45,889 a year, or $3,824 a month and $1,765 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for curators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $56,150 buys what about $59,950 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Curators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($56,350).
- Charleston$56,350
- Columbia$56,150
Highest-paying cities for curators
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,910).
- New York, NY$99,910
- New Haven, CT$99,830
- San Francisco, CA$98,200
- Ann Arbor, MI$95,110
- Washington, DC$93,030
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Curators salary in Columbia: questions
How much do curators make an hour in Columbia?
$27.00 an hour on average, and $27.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level curators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the curators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $45,889 a year ($3,824 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,150.
Do curators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($71,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4012; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.